Digestion Of Gotu Kola Tea

Gotu kola is a creeping plant native to Southeast Asia, India, China, South Africa and South America. This herb is primarily used in traditional medicine for chronic venous insufficiency because the digestion of certain plant micronutrients deters the formation of arterial plaque. There is also evidence that gotu kola prevents stomach ulcers. If you have a history of liver disease or skin cancer, consult your physician before using this complementary therapy because of potential toxicity.

Plant Profile

Throughout Asia, gotu kola is widely used to treat rheumatism, asthma, epilepsy, hepatitis, syphilis and jaundice. In China, the plant is referred to as the “fountain of life” because an herbalist who regularly consumed the herb allegedly lived for more than 200 years. The botanical name for gotu kola is Centella asiatica, although the plant is also known by many common names, including hydrocotyle, marsh penny, white rot, thick-leaved pennywort and Indian pennywort. Although gotu kola is related to parsley, it has no detectable taste or smell.

Composition

The medicinal parts of gotu kola are the leaves and stems, which contain volatile oil and various triterpene acids, such as asiatic acid, madecassic acid and terminolic acid. Other pharmacologically active compounds in the herb include sugar residues from oligosaccharides in the form of asiaticoside and asiaticoside A and B.

Protective Effects on Digestive Tract

The triterpene acids and sugar esters are responsible for the plant’s anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and wound-healing properties. The “Physicians’ Desk Reference for Herbal Medicines” says that animal studies show that gotu kola compounds, especially asiaticoside, demonstrate an ability to prevent the formation of stress-induced ulcers as effectively as famotidine. In one study, an aqueous leaf extract of gotu kola leaf provided 100 percent protection from ulcer formation in rats given oral doses of hydrochloric acid while the control group developed ulcers. The wound-healing effects of the herb in the gut may be similar those exerted in the skin which, according to a 2000 study published in “Aesthetic Plastic Surgery,” includes increased production of myofibroblasts and type I collagen.

Cardiovascular Effects

A 2008 study published in the “Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology” shows that absorption of plant-based micronutrients from gotu kola leaves improves blood flow, which reduces the risk of atherosclerosis. Specifically, asiatic acid prevents the adhesion of specialized white cells called monocytes to the endothelium, the layer of cells that line the surface of blood vessels.

Preparation

The authors of a study published in the “Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture” in October 2011 report that the optimal antioxidant potential of gotu kola tea is achieved by brewing for 10 minutes in water measuring 100 degrees Celsius, or 212 degrees Fahrenheit, which is the boiling point of water. Non-fermented tea, or raw herbal material, yielded the most antioxidant activity from quercetin, rosmarinic acid, rutin, naringin and other compounds. To get the most benefit from gotu kola tea, the University of Maryland Medical Center suggests drinking three cups per day.

Safety Considerations

Side effects are rare, but some people may experience mild stomach upset or nausea. Do not consume gotu kola tea if you have a history of liver disease or take medications that are metabolized in the liver. Consult your physician before using this herb if you have ever had skin cancer or precancerous lesions because asiaticoside is associated with tumor growth in mice.